SEA-SFO-SYD-MEL transfers

[KitKat]

Hi,
Quick question regarding luggage handling from Seattle back to Oz. Am returning from Seattle to Melbourne via SFO and SYD as follows:
SEA-SFO Alaska Airlines AA flight no
SFO-SYD QF
SYD-MEL QF
I know I have to collect my luggage in SYD and get through customs but wanted to check with the experts whether I need to pick up my luggage at SFO and recheck them again as well (all flights on same ticket - QF ticketed)?
Thanks
Seattle is great. Have had too much Dungeness and Alaskan king Crab!

 

[straitman]

You should be able to check your bags all the way To SYD without any issue.
Qantas will probably want to see your baggage slips to enter the details into their computer system so keep them handy.

Glad you enjoyed the crabs as they are really great.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

On the SYD/MEL leg is the QF flight number a domestic one (ie QF400 and above) or an international one (ie QF1-QF399)? If it's the latter you won't clear customs until MEL and just remain airside and SYD Intl terminal. :?:

PS If you get a chance have a meal at the Mexican restaurant on level 4 of the Pacific Place shopping center downtown Seattle called Mexico Cantina y Veracruz www.eatatmexico.com

 

[KitKat]

Thanks for the replies. The connection to MEL is a domestic flight, so have to clear customs/immigration in SYD and get to the next terminal, no QF Flounge

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Thanks for the replies. The connection to MEL is a domestic flight, so have to clear customs/immigration in SYD and get to the next terminal, no QF Flounge

So in SEA I would ask AS/AA whoever is doing the checkin to through check your bag to MEL if possible. Of course you still pick in up in SYD & clear customs with it before bag dropping it at QF at the intl terminal then catching the QF shuttle bus around to the domestic terminal.

You may get a checkin agent who will say that as you need to clear customs in SYD they can only check your bag to SYD. Not correct as your bag can be tagged to MEL & you still clear customs in SYD - just the reverse of what happens when you fly eg MEL/SYD/SFO/SEA.

Don't push the point just go with whatever happens, the only difference being at SYD Intl terminal the checkin agent at bagdrop issues a new bag tag to MEL so just one less thing for them to do if bag is already tagged to final destination.

There's a good chance you'll get all your boarding passes in SEA or if not at SFO however these can always being issued by QF at SYD intl term when dropping off your bags.

Cheers

Oz